Vouvant

Member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

Charly G.Eglise Vouvant CC BY-SA 4.0
VouvantEntrée de bourg de Vouvant CC BY-SA 4.0
Jochen JahnkeF07.Vouvant.0012 CC BY-SA 3.0
Charly G.Jardin du prieuré - Vouvant CC BY-SA 4.0
Charly G.La Tour Mélusine, vue du pont enjambant la rivière La Mère CC BY-SA 3.0
Charly G.La Tour Mélusine, à Vouvant CC BY-SA 4.0
VouvantLa poterne de Vouvant en Vendée CC BY-SA 4.0
Ludovic G.Absidiole sud - Église Notre-Dame de Vouvant CC BY-SA 4.0
Ludovic G.Assommoir - Tour Mélusine - Château de Vouvant CC BY-SA 4.0
Ludovic G.Bac à chaîne Vouvant CC BY-SA 4.0
Ludovic G.Baie aveugle église Notre-Dame de Vouvant CC BY-SA 4.0
Ludovic G.Bas tour Mélusine de Vouvant CC BY-SA 4.0
Ludovic G.Canon - Vouvant CC BY-SA 4.0

The river Mère wraps around three sides of the hill that holds Vouvant, the only fortified town left in the Vendée. Walls raised by the Lusignans around 1200 still stand with their keep, the Tour Mélusine, and a three-arched medieval bridge crosses the river, while the Mervent-Vouvant forest, the largest in the department, spreads across the commune.

Highlights

The Tour Mélusine, keep of the Lusignan castle, from the late 12th century
The church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, begun in the 11th century, with its crypt
The old bridge, built between the 13th and 15th centuries
Walks in the Mervent-Vouvant forest, the Vendée's largest (FR)
The 1958 replica of the Lourdes grotto on the riverbank

Text adapted from Wikipedia (Vouvant (FR), Vouvant (EN), Vouvant (IT)), Wikivoyage (Vouvant). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Population: 829

Things to see

Events through the year

Orientation race Sport and games · February
Marche du muguet Sport and games · 1 MaySeveral walking routes organised by the local football club
Plant and garden fair Fairs and markets · A Sunday in late MayHeld on the Place du Bail
Vouvant organ festival Music and arts · May to NovemberOrgan concerts in the church
Fête de la musique Music and arts · Around 21 JuneMusic in the church and on the Place du Bail
Raid Mélusine Sport and games · Last weekend of June
Bastille Day festivities Seasonal · 14 JulyDaytime activities on the square, fireworks by the river at nightfall
Flea market Fairs and markets · First Sunday of JulyOn the Place du Bail
European Heritage Days Historical · Mid-SeptemberFree entry to the Mélusine tower and guided tours
Christmas market Seasonal · Late NovemberIn the village centre

Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.

Adapted from Wikipedia (Vouvant). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Specialities of Pays de la Loire

Typical of the region rather than of this village.

Romain BrégetFouées angevines avec rillettes CC BY-SA 3.0
FouéeBread and pastaSmall baked bread eaten sweet or savoury, with rillauds or mogettes
AbirougeCrêmet d'Anjou traditionnel CC BY-SA 3.0
Crémet d'Anjou (FR)SweetLight sweet dessert, praised by Curnonsky
Plum pieSweetShortcrust pie filled with greengage plums
PassionaperitfGuignolet CC BY-SA 4.0
GuignoletDrinkAngers cherry liqueur made at home
Marianne CasamanceMogettes de Vendée CC BY-SA 4.0
MogettesLocal produceDried white beans, a staple of Poitou and Vendée
Jambon de Vendée (FR)Cured meatHam protected by an IGP since 2014